Induction at 40 weeks, what do we think??

[mumblesmummy]

I have really bad SPD and I can't sleep at night at all. I just stay awake all the time, or sometimes I manage to nod off for an hour in a chair of a night time. It's getting me down so I went to my GP who refered me to the consultant (who I see on Thursday) to discuss induction.

She said he'll probably drag his heels so she thinks the induction would be at about 40 weeks. I'm currently 38+2.

Then I spoke to a midwife who said that she thinks it's not a good idea and will introduce complications.

I also know that some people on here are opposed to induction.

However, the baby's already about 7lb 11 (that was last Wednesday). And I really am in a lot of pain and discomfort.

Are there any views on this?

I was booked in for induction at 40 +5 due to having SPD (not as bad as yours though from the sound of it). Baby was showing as big - 8lb 7 I think at 37 weeks. So I went in, and had the first pessary, nothing happened so had another one, again nothing happened. After 2 days sat in hospital with nothing happening they said they would break my waters to definitely get it going.

I didn't fancy that, so decided to go home and wait it out instead. I was rebooked in for another induction at 42 weeks, but went into labour naturally just beforehand. Delivered DS at 10lb 4.5oz into water relatively easily (despite a little problem with his shoulders getting stuck).

I was amazed when they said how big he was as delivering him was no worse than DD1 and DD2 who were both around the 8lb mark.

My advice would be to sit it out if you can, as forcing them before they're ready does seem to lead to more complications.

When I had my 3rd child I was induced at 38 weeks. The induction went fine. There was some intervention but in retrospect it was all avoidable and if I was in that situation in future I would be more assertive.

I think it took 2 or 3 lots of gel to get me started, and I had a few hours of prostin pains, but once I'd got going it was a straightforward labour. At 6cm dilated they asked if they could break my water - someone had mis-read my notes and thought I'd been in labour for much longer than I had. So I agreed to having my waters broken and what had been a normal labour became horrible - very very fast and frightening. DD was delivered 30 minutes later. She had her arm up so I ended up with a 2nd degree tear. Apart from that things were ok though.

I had a PPH 12 hours later for which I needed an oxytocin drip but I think that was caused by the long walk between the post-natal ward and SCBU.

So for me, being induced at 38 weeks was fine until they started poking around with me. If you do go ahead with it I'd recommend getting a doula or someone who can keep their wits about them on your behalf to ensure you are treated as an individual and not a statistic on a protocol.

I think I posted on your other thread. I really would wait until 40 weeks tbh. I had 2 inductions that went well and 2 that didn't, the 2 that didn't were my first and the one when I was only 40 weeks (I've always got to 42 weeks without going into labour at which point I've been induced)

I know it's really hard with the pain and not being able to sleep etc but rest, do nothing to aggrevate the spd, frozen peas on your pubic bone are fab. Just put yourself on bed rest for 2 weeks. If the induction goes badly and you end with assisted delivery it is not going to be good for your spd.

I've also seen your other posts. Are you thinking of having an assessment at 40 weeks prior to induction - perhaps with a sweep - to see if things are likely to happen naturally within say the few days following the 40 week mark. It would be a pity if you didn't check and you were destined to go into labour at 40+1 day and instead you had a four day induction which ended in a CS.

I have SPD and it's the bloody pits. But the thing is, once it's at it's worst, it can't get any worse and there aside from making you very tired and cross, it's not doing any lasting harm (at least that's what I'm holding onto). You need to do nothing and just rest though - that is all you can do.

If I were in your shoes I'd take to my bed from 38 weeks.

I've got my appointment with the consultant tomorrow. No idea what he's going to say, but went to see my own midwife today who said considering how I'm struggling she reckons he'll opt for induction.

So now I'm even more confused.

I'm hoping he'll run through things with me and make the decision himself so that i don't have to. I wouldn't actually have thought of it, but when the doctor mentioned it I thought 'hmmm... that does sound like a way out'.

Any other stories of this happening and being a good thing or a bad thing would be greatly appreciated, as I'm clueless.

xx